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Bridgewater/Emery-Ethan's Carter Dye (68) pass protects on the offensive line during the Class 11B state championship game in November at the DakotaDome in Vermillion. (Matt Gade / Republic)

The Dakota Wesleyan University football team reloaded up front on Wednesday.

The Tigers signed 33 players—including seven offensive linemen—on National Signing Day, while also finding pieces around it in the process.

"We lost four starters and five total guys," DWU coach Ross Cimpl said. "So just in terms of body, depth and experience, we lost a lot so we needed to bring in some quality kids. I think we did that."

DWU found talent in multiple states to help replenish its offensive line, including returning starter Dawson Grotjohn's younger brother, Parker, who is from Stewartville, Minnesota, and is recovering from a knee injury.

Along with Brendan Jordan—an all-state lineman in Wyoming—and Sebastian Garcia (Redmond, Wash.) in the seven-lineman class, the Tigers also found a potential difference maker in the transfer market. Malcolm Mueller, who is originally from Germany, announced his transfer on Monday from Trinity International University (Ill.), where he spent the last two seasons.

"When he came and visited, he tested extremely well, so we're excited to see him run around and move," Cimpl said about the 6-foot-4, 285-pound Mueller. "And the experience of playing in a game gives him an advantage of learning our system and learning what needs to get done."

They'll have to block for a new signal caller, though. DWU doesn't return any quarterbacks from last year's team, as Shaye Slaughter graduated and Zachary Lester is still on campus but focusing on his academics.

Therefore, one of the four quarterbacks signed Wednesday will take the reins. DWU added Mitchell High School three-year starter Kiel Nelson, along with Jordan Etter (Spanaway, Wash.), Michael Dameron (Fort Worth, Texas) and Kansas Wesleyan University transfer quarterback Anthony De La Torre.

Etter broke his high school's all-time passing record, while Dameron recorded 3,490 passing yards and 889 rushing yards as a senior.

"It's going to be a competition in fall camp to see who can win the job," Cimpl said. "Obviously Anthony has a head start in terms of learning and getting reps because he's here and able to do those things right now. We'll probably have a new signal caller next fall."

Defensively, the Tigers return plenty of depth on the defensive line. However, in order to fare better against power-run teams, DWU tried to bulk up its line. It found that in 6-foot-3 Samuel Henderson (Buena Park, Calif.), along with 6-foot-2 Romeon Greve (Kirkland, Wash.).

Although, Cimpl highlighted Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan's Carter Dye, who is 6-foot-3, as a potential difference maker from the start. Dye finished his Seahawk career with 241 tackles and 22 sacks as a two-year starter, while Henderson had 76 tackles and 13 sacks as a senior.

"I think Carter Dye is quite possibly one of the most underrated lineman in the state of South Dakota," Cimpl said. "He's a really good football player, and we're expecting some pretty big things out of him. We think he can come in and play as a true freshmen."